Malpractice Payouts and Malpractice Insurance: Evidence from Texas Closed Claims, 1990-2003

16 Pages Posted: 2 Jun 2007 Last revised: 28 Apr 2008

See all articles by Charles Silver

Charles Silver

University of Texas at Austin - School of Law

Bernard S. Black

Northwestern University - Pritzker School of Law

Kathryn Zeiler

Boston University - School of Law

David A. Hyman

Georgetown University Law Center

William M. Sage

Texas A&M University School of Law

Date Written: 2008

Abstract

Background. This study is the first to quantify physicians' malpractice insurance limits. It also examines the connection between policy size and payments on claims, including the frequency of settlement at the policy limits and the frequency of out-of-pocket payments.

Methods. Statistical analyses using data collected by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) covering all insured medical malpractice claims against physicians closed between 1990 and 2003 with payment of $25,000 or more (measured in 1988 dollars).

Results. Contrary to conventional wisdom, per-occurrence limits of $500,000 or less were as common as $1 million limits. Nominal policy size was stable over time, but real policy size declined. Settlements at limits were common, and above-limits payments were rare, suggesting policy limits cap recoveries. Physicians infrequently made out-of-pocket payments regardless of policy size, but the frequency declined as policy size increased. Results are presented separately for "perinatal physicians." Conclusions. The reported findings are contrary to common claims in policy debates and in the health policy literature. Policy limits appear to act as de facto caps on recoveries. Further research is needed to determine how the relationship between policy limits and recoveries affects malpractice claim outcomes and physician insuring practices.

For a fuller exploration of physician policy limits and out of pocket payments, see Kathryn Zeiler, Charles Silver, Bernard Black, David Hyman & William Sage, Physicians' Insurance Limits and Malpractice Payments: Evidence from Texas Closed Claims, 1990-2003, Journal of Legal Studies (forthcoming 2007), available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=981192.

Keywords: liability insurance, claims analysis, medical malpractice, insurance policy limits

JEL Classification: K13, K32, K41

Suggested Citation

Silver, Charles M. and Black, Bernard S. and Zeiler, Kathryn and Hyman, David A. and Sage, William Matthew, Malpractice Payouts and Malpractice Insurance: Evidence from Texas Closed Claims, 1990-2003 (2008). Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, Vol. 33, pp. 177-192, 2008, Georgetown Law and Economics Research Paper No. 983199, U Illinois Law & Economics Research Paper No. LE07-016, U of Texas Law, Law and Econ Research Paper No. 102, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=983199

Charles M. Silver

University of Texas at Austin - School of Law ( email )

727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705
United States
512-232-1337 (Phone)
512-232-1372 (Fax)

Bernard S. Black (Contact Author)

Northwestern University - Pritzker School of Law ( email )

375 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
312-503-2784 (Phone)

Kathryn Zeiler

Boston University - School of Law ( email )

765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

David A. Hyman

Georgetown University Law Center ( email )

600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
United States

William Matthew Sage

Texas A&M University School of Law ( email )

1515 Commerce St.
Fort Worth, TX Tarrant County 76102
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
356
Abstract Views
8,020
Rank
153,255
PlumX Metrics